The playoffs are great not just because of the basketball, but because of what they reveal about what is working in the league at that particular moment. They highlight the kinds of schemes and skillsets that are producing playoff wins and NBA titles, and can be educational for the teams no longer playing.
The postseason can also kind of foreshadow what’s to come around the league. There is usually some copycat effect no matter who wins each season. Teams make assumptions about what worked in the playoffs and why, then set out making changes in the offseason.
We can see that reflected in the draft too. Every team picks with the intent of making the playoffs, being a contender and winning the title one day.
So what did we learn from the 2021 postseason? I figured it would be interesting to ask nine NBA prospects what they took from the playoffs. Their answers would show us what their takeaways were, what they think teams are looking for from them when they get to the league, and, also, potentially reveal what they think is the best case for themselves ahead of the draft.
To do that, The Athletic asked a variation of the same question to several players during media availability over the last month: If you’ve been watching the playoffs, what do you think teams are looking for from a player at your position to be able to do well and be competitive in the postseason? Here are their answers.
Corey Kispert, Wing, Gonzaga, 6-foot-7, No. 18 on Sam Vecenie’s Big Board
“Make open shots when they’re called upon. That’s the No. 1 thing. When closeouts happen and shots go away, take one or two dribbles into the paint and make reads from there. It’s really not too much to ask because we’re asking those elite playmakers to be scorers as well.
